July 2nd, 2009 |
History, Reflections from the Past, Uncategorized | Chari | No comments.
- TRAIN WRECK ON THE CENTRAL BRANCH: Vermillion had such excitement, Monday afternoon, as it had not known for ages past. No. 3, the passenger from the east, was late and it was supposed that the passenger from the west was also behind as No.8 had 10 minutes of its time to reach Vliets. At Centralia, No. 3 came into the station at 12:55 and while the engineer was int he station getting his orders, No. 4 came in on time (12:57) and crashed into the engine of No. 3. The fireman on No. 3 gave the danger signal, reversed the lever and sprang from the engine. It responded and started backward slowly. The engineer on No. 4 could not see, until he got around the curve, that No. 3 was on the main track, at which time he did all possible to stop the train: the wheels were locked for the last 25 yards at least. It is likely that but for the fact that No. 3 had on two extra coaches and the engine was thus further down the track than usual, the collision would have been averted.
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